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Combined Radiative Cooling and Solar Thermal Collection: Experimental Proof of Concept

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  • Sergi Vall

    (Sustainaible Energy, Machinery and Buildings (SEMB) Research Group, INSPIRES Research Centre, Universitat de Lleida, Pere de Cabrera s/n, 25001 Lleida, Spain)

  • Marc Medrano

    (Sustainaible Energy, Machinery and Buildings (SEMB) Research Group, INSPIRES Research Centre, Universitat de Lleida, Pere de Cabrera s/n, 25001 Lleida, Spain)

  • Cristian Solé

    (Sustainaible Energy, Machinery and Buildings (SEMB) Research Group, INSPIRES Research Centre, Universitat de Lleida, Pere de Cabrera s/n, 25001 Lleida, Spain)

  • Albert Castell

    (Sustainaible Energy, Machinery and Buildings (SEMB) Research Group, INSPIRES Research Centre, Universitat de Lleida, Pere de Cabrera s/n, 25001 Lleida, Spain)

Abstract

Climate change is becoming more important day after day. The main actor to decarbonize the economy is the building stock, especially in the energy used for Domestic Hot Water (DHW), heating and cooling. The use of renewable energy sources to cover space conditioning and DHW demands is growing every year. While solar thermal energy can cover building heating and DHW demands, there is no technology with such potential and development for space cooling. In this paper, a new concept of combining radiative cooling and solar thermal collection, the Radiative Collector and Emitter (RCE), through the idea of an adaptive cover, which uses different material properties for each functionality, is for the first time experimentally tested and proved. The RCE relies on an adaptive cover that uses different material properties for each functionality: high spectral transmittance in the solar radiation band and very low spectral transmittance in the infrared band during solar collection mode, and high spectral transmittance in the atmospheric window wavelength during radiative cooling mode. Experiments were performed during the summer period in Lleida (Dry Mediterranean Continental climate). The concept was proved, demonstrating the potential of the RCE to heat up water during daylight hours and to cool down water during the night. Daily/nightly average efficiencies up to 49% and 32% were achieved for solar collection and radiative cooling, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Sergi Vall & Marc Medrano & Cristian Solé & Albert Castell, 2020. "Combined Radiative Cooling and Solar Thermal Collection: Experimental Proof of Concept," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-13, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:4:p:893-:d:321770
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vall, Sergi & Castell, Albert, 2017. "Radiative cooling as low-grade energy source: A literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 803-820.
    2. Bagiorgas, H.S. & Mihalakakou, G., 2008. "Experimental and theoretical investigation of a nocturnal radiator for space cooling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 1220-1227.
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    5. Hu, Mingke & Zhao, Bin & Ao, Xianze & Zhao, Pinghui & Su, Yuehong & Pei, Gang, 2018. "Field investigation of a hybrid photovoltaic-photothermic-radiative cooling system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C), pages 288-300.
    6. Hughes, Ben Richard & Chaudhry, Hassam Nasarullah & Ghani, Saud Abdul, 2011. "A review of sustainable cooling technologies in buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(6), pages 3112-3120, August.
    7. Hu, Mingke & Pei, Gang & Wang, Qiliang & Li, Jing & Wang, Yunyun & Ji, Jie, 2016. "Field test and preliminary analysis of a combined diurnal solar heating and nocturnal radiative cooling system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 899-908.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ingrid Martorell & Jaume Camarasa & Roger Vilà & Cristian Solé & Albert Castell, 2022. "Aging Study of Plastics to Be Used as Radiative Cooling Wind-Shields for Night-Time Radiative Cooling—Polypropylene as an Alternative to Polyethylene," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Hu, Mingke & Zhao, Bin & Suhendri, & Ao, Xianze & Cao, Jingyu & Wang, Qiliang & Riffat, Saffa & Su, Yuehong & Pei, Gang, 2022. "Applications of radiative sky cooling in solar energy systems: Progress, challenges, and prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    3. Vilà, Roger & Medrano, Marc & Castell, Albert, 2023. "Climate change influences in the determination of the maximum power potential of radiative cooling. Evolution and seasonal study in Europe," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 500-513.
    4. Abdul Sattar & Muhammad Farooq & Muhammad Amjad & Muhammad A. Saeed & Saad Nawaz & M.A. Mujtaba & Saqib Anwar & Ahmed M. El-Sherbeeny & Manzoore Elahi M. Soudagar & Enio P. Bandarra Filho & Qasim Ali , 2020. "Performance Evaluation of a Direct Absorption Collector for Solar Thermal Energy Conversion," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-16, September.

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